For your conference break, choose biscuits whose packaging clearly states whether Fairtrade applies to the cocoa, other ingredients or the product as a whole. Then check that the format suits your break: with individually wrapped portions, the product information stays with the biscuit, while for unwrapped biscuits you’ll need to make allergen information available separately. A Fairtrade claim for cocoa doesn’t automatically mean that all the ingredients are Fairtrade.
You want to be able to say exactly which ingredients the Fairtrade claim applies to. For a composite product such as a biscuit, the explanation accompanying the certification mark or ingredient claim makes this distinction clear, according to Fairtrade International.
You’re looking for biscuits that are easy to hand out and whose ingredients and allergens guests can check. For small portions, make sure this information is still available at the point of serving.
You need to be able to provide allergen information for every variety on offer when the original packaging isn’t with the biscuits. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how this information must be made available for unwrapped food.
Start by checking the exact Fairtrade claim, then decide how you’ll serve the biscuits and ensure guests can access the product information.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Read the certification mark and the explanation on the packaging: does the claim apply to cocoa, other named ingredients or the product as a whole? | If I’m promoting Fairtrade biscuits, I want to be able to explain exactly what the claim covers; around 36% of consumers would say that clarity is their main purchasing need. |
| Allergen information | Check the current label and, for unwrapped biscuits, arrange clear written or verbal information for each variety. | Anyone serving loose biscuits wants guests to be able to ask about allergens before choosing; around 29% of consumers would say this is their main need. |
| Portions and serving | Check how many biscuits are in each portion and whether the packaging stays sealed until they’re served. | For a busy self-service break, I want to be able to set out portions easily without losing track of the product information; this would be the priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Availability and alternatives | Check current availability and have an alternative ready with a Fairtrade claim that is clearly explained. | If my chosen biscuit is unavailable, I want to be able to switch without dropping the Fairtrade requirement; around 14% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
Lotus Bakeries says the cocoa used in its Biscoff chocolate bars is Rainforest Alliance certified. This doesn’t support a Fairtrade claim for Biscoff biscuits.
In your catering communications, use only the certification shown on the current packaging or product information for the exact biscuit you’re serving.
When biscuits are served unwrapped, guests must be able to get information about any allergens before they make a choice. A label on packaging that isn’t available at the serving point won’t help them.
Keep the product information for each variety to hand, and make it clear where guests can read the allergen information or ask for it verbally.
Providing a separate allergen card or a point of contact requires extra preparation when serving.
Jumbo says that Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits are no longer available. The earlier ingredient claim doesn’t make them a current option to order.
Just before placing your order, check availability, the exact product variety and the Fairtrade claim on the current packaging of your chosen alternative.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a chocolate biscuit with an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim.
A well-known biscuit brand to check individually if your conference has a specific certification requirement.
A retailer where you can compare the Fairtrade claim and allergen information for a specific product.
A retailer where you can check product claims and the current status of a specific biscuit variety.
Retailers where you’ll need to check whether each product meets the Fairtrade requirement.
No. A Fairtrade claim for cocoa doesn’t automatically apply to the other ingredients. Fairtrade International describes different ways of labelling composite products, so check the certification mark and explanation on the packaging of the exact biscuit you’re considering.
Make sure guests can get information about any allergens before they choose. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information for unwrapped food can be provided in writing or verbally, as long as guests are told clearly how to access it. Keep the details for every variety on offer available at the serving point.
Don’t rely on an old product page to confirm the current packaging or availability. Check the ingredients, allergens, Fairtrade claim, best-before date and availability for your chosen variety again. For example, Jumbo says that Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits are no longer available.
Read the warning on the current label for each biscuit variety and include it in the allergen information you provide to guests. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that new rules have applied in the Netherlands since 1 January 2026 on how and when possible allergen cross-contamination must be stated on labels.
